French DJ Kavinsky, who was best known internationally for his ‘Nightcall’ track which opened Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 film Drive, has died at the age of 50.
French media reported that the music artist, producer and DJ was found dead at his home in Paris on Tuesday evening (July 28).
The Paris Prosecutors Office said in a statement said that an investigation had been opened into the cause of his death, noting that “first responders found no suspicious elements at the scene”.
Born Vincent Belorgey in Paris on July 31, 1975, Kavinsky was a key figure in the French Touch electro music scene alongside the likes of Daft Punk.
He achieved worldwide fame with his 2010 ‘Nightcall’ track after Winding Refn used it for his 2011 film Drive starring Ryan Gosling opposite Carey Mulligan as a Hollywood stunt driver moonlighting as a getaway driver.
Kavinsky had released the track – produced by Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Chriso – the previous year.
His cinema connections preceded the Drive breakout through his long collaborative friendship with musician and DJ turned director Quentin Dupieux. He acted in Dupieux’s 2007 picture Steak, which also featured his music.
More recently, he made a cameo appearance in Netflix French-language original Banger opposite Vincent starring Vincent Cassel as a jaded DJ.
Across his career, Kavinsky released two albums: ‘OutRun’ in 2013 and ‘Reborn’ in 2022. The latter featured ‘Nightcall’ and was, according to the music artist, influenced by 1980s video games, cop shows such as Miami Vice, and the films of Dario Argento.
Kavinsky’s recent musical engagements include performing at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as part of a celebration of French electronic music at the Stade de France.
